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Everybody’s talking about…
Labour’s official party policy is to repeal of the 8th Amendment and many of the party’s TDs are pro-choice, including Anne Ferris. Today she will vote against the government on a bill to allow for abortions in cases of fatal foetal abnormality and automatically be expelled from the parliamentary party.
Labour feels it cannot offer a free vote to TDs as its manifesto contained no commitment on this particular issue and therefore it has no mandate to push for a referendum to repeal the 8th. In addition a free vote would not go down well with Fine Gael which held the line on the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill nearly two years ago and lost four TDs as a result.
From a political perspective all of this is understandable. But it’s another example of the cruel nature of the whip system. It has its uses, it’s important for stability, but on such sensitive social issues such as this it would be nice to think the parties could give some ground.
Fianna Fáil is allowing a free vote on today’s bill. In some ways it’s ironic that the party so often associated with all that is bad about Irish politics is taking a more nuanced approach in this instance although some may argue that too is for political reasons.
For Labour the question now is whether anyone else will join Ferris. This morning, that’s far from clear.
The agenda
Inside Leinster House
Our roving reporter Daragh Brophy was the heart of all the Paul Murphy shenanigans yesterday…
The Socialists/AAA organised an ad-hoc press conference at Buswell’s Hotel, to respond to Paul Murphy’s arrest. Clearly, they weren’t happy having to fork-out for the room… As they wrapped up, TD Ruth Coppinger was overheard telling her fellow party members to take the hotel pens with them. “We pay Buswell’s enough,” she said.
What the others are saying
In case you missed it
On the tweet machine
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Labour has shown they are followers not leaders.
Oh, look at all those journalists holding Joan hostage in her car and pointing weapons of war at her.
Probably all due for arrest imminently.
They will do what they always do, complain then fall inline and do what they are told. What is the point of electing anyone to represent your views when the party decodes the vote.
They will do what all the rest will do if they don’t agree with the bill. They will just not bother turning up.
While I definitely support Ferris’s decision here I would neither call it bold not brave. It involves having common sense and decency, something the Labour party has be devoid of for the last four years.
As usually Labour TD’s will leave any social principles at the door of the Dail and follow the whip. Think of those pensions boys and girls…..
Anne starting her reelection campaign early.
Why are Sinn Fein abstaining, anyone know?
They did not come up with the vote idea, so no plaudits for them.
Sitting on the fence
Division in the ranks I would say regarding Sinn Fein. If they do ever hold the balance of power I forcast that their present supporters will be as disgruntled as are many of Labours at the moment.
Nothing changes that much in politics.
“Sinn Féin’s Brian Stanley said the party is abstaining on the bill as a motion will be put to the party’s Ard Fheis on the issue.
He said the party had not concluded discussions on the issue.
He said it must assure that its policies are reflective of the party.”
Talk about smearing…….”As they wrapped up, TD Ruth Coppinger was overheard telling her fellow party members to take the hotel pens with them. “We pay Buswell’s enough,” she said.”
Seriously Daragh Brophy, you can see your own disdain shining through to print hearsay like that and you can see where Hugh O Connell’s mentality rests when that’s all he can pull out of Daragh’s report.
Too little too late Ms Ferris, typical voting against the gov because of personal beliefs just like that lucinda and morn Keavney. They were put there to represent our interests not their own.
Bold and brave can also be described as attempting to ensure re- election. Political posturing is what makes cynics out of ordinary folk.
“Brave & Bold” is that how Lucinda was described when she stood for her principles? Certainly not on thejournal.ie anyway.
Courage? Could it be her looking at the next election and not fancying it as a Labour Party candidate?
It is unconstitutional in my opinion. The 1983 amendment gives “equal” right to life of mother and baby. The birth of such a baby would not harm the right to life of the mother, even is suicidal, the likely suacide would be after the birth and outside the scope of the amendment. It will take another amendment to sort it one way or the other.
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